Cannabis debate heads for Ohariu-Belmont

Green MP
Nandor Tanczos and Jim Anderton will be heading to
Ohariu-Belmont to debate cannabis law reform.

Nandor and
Mr Anderton engaged in a lively and thoughtful debate on
Tuesday night in the Wigram electorate, an event that drew a
packed house of around 230 people.

Following the debate Mr
Anderton commented that "it would be wrong if the good
people of Ohariu-Belmont did not have the opportunity to
participate in a similar open discussion". Nandor, the Green
spokesperson for cannabis law reform, said he agreed
entirely.

"Let's give the people of Ohariu-Belmont a
chance to listen to the debate that their own MP didn't want
them to hear," said Nandor.

"The huge turn-out in Wigram
just showed the enormous public interest in hearing the
facts. People want the chance to make up their own minds,
and MPs have a responsibility to facilitate rather than
stifle public debate."

Nandor said that while he and Mr
Anderton disagreed on the best policy to reduce abuse of
cannabis, the important thing was that the public got access
to the facts, and to the different points of view.

"We've
already had a lot of interest from people in Ohariu-Belmont
in attending. I think that people will draw their own
conclusions about the fact that Mr Dunne has made locking-in
cannabis prohibition a bottom line issue, yet is not
prepared to publicly defend or even explain his
position.

"The amazing thing is that Mr Dunne told the
Health Select Committee inquiry into cannabis that the
current policy is not working, yet he opposes any change.
Maybe his inability to reconcile his own statements is
preventing him from accepting," said Nandor.

Nandor said
he will make sure a chair remains empty on stage, in case Mr
Dunne changes his mind.

Details for the Ohariu-Belmont
debate are yet to be finalised. Nandor has accepted an
invitation from Progressive MP Matt Robson to debate the
issue of cannabis law reform in South Auckland.

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